diff --git a/sound/pci/ac97/ac97_codec.c b/sound/pci/ac97/ac97_codec.c
index 83bb086bf975..b920c739d686 100644
--- a/sound/pci/ac97/ac97_codec.c
+++ b/sound/pci/ac97/ac97_codec.c
@@ -2006,8 +2006,8 @@ int snd_ac97_mixer(struct snd_ac97_bus *bus, struct snd_ac97_template *template,
 		.dev_disconnect =	snd_ac97_dev_disconnect,
 	};
 
-	if (rac97)
-		*rac97 = NULL;
+	if (!rac97)
+		return -EINVAL;
 	if (snd_BUG_ON(!bus || !template))
 		return -EINVAL;
 	if (snd_BUG_ON(template->num >= 4))